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Nissan's new Z GT500 is ready for Super GT racing duty in Japan
Nissan's new Z GT500 is ready for Super GT racing duty in Japan (check link for the pictures)
After nearly 15 years in service Nissan is retiring its R35 GT-R from race car duties in Japan's excellent Super GT series (which used to be called JGTC), but for good reason: The 2022 Super GT season will see the racing debut of the new Nissan Z. Called the Z GT500, denoting the class the car will race in, it was developed by the Nismo racing division.
It's a shame the new racer was unveiled with a matte-black livery, because the Z looks absolutely awesome in Super GT guise. The retro looks are intact, but the GT500 has crazy fender flares and intricate side skirts, a massive swan-neck rear wing, a complex diffuser, a larger front grille with an interesting center post and a bunch of new vents. There are no photos of the interior, but expect a stripped-out cabin with racing seats, a roll cage and a ton of buttons and switches.
Nissan didn't release any technical details yet, but the GT500 class is heavily regulated. All the race cars use turbocharged inline-4 engines, and the turbos themselves are identical across the board. Power output is 650 horsepower, and weight is set at a minimum of 2,271 pounds including the driver. The new Z will go up against the Acura NSX and the Toyota Supra in the GT500 class, while the slower and less restrictive GT300 class has entrants that include the Lotus Evora , Toyota Prius, Subaru BRZ and lots of other GT3-class racers.
While this is the first race car we've seen based on the new Z, we're certain it won't be the last. Nissan has a long history of racing past Z cars in everything from global rallying to IMSA series, so we expect to see the new Z in various other motorsport series in the near future. But for now, the Z GT500 will make its on-track debut at Okayama International Circuit for the start of the 2022 season in April.
While there aren't any further details on the Super GT series, Nissan usually supports 3-4 other teams with the new Z bodywork. As for seeing the new Z race in GT series outside of Japan, I wouldn't count on it. NISMO has sold complete FIA GT3 spec Zs to privateer teams in the past, but the price tag is very steep. Could the new Z be raced in the US? Possible, but unlikely.
Nissan's new Z GT500 is ready for Super GT racing duty in Japan
